Community Events Planning for Centre County Conservation District

Ada Inman — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 17:11:12 +0000

The Centre County Conservation District (CCCD) is the County’s resource for issues relating to the maintenance and conservation of natural resources in the county. They work with county stakeholders to address and mitigate impacts on the natural environment and serve as a liaison to other agencies. One of their core functions is to educate the public on conservation best management practices. The CCCD’s Water Specialist, Ivy Foster, is interested in creating community engagement events in Centre County communities that inform the public on topics relevant to water. A community of particular interest is Phillipsburg. Due to its location on the edge of Centre and Clearfield Counties, education about water resources is of particular interest as water supply and issues transcend county lines. The students worked with CCCD Water Specialist to organize a community event focused on water, that may include a a film screening and discussion and/or other activities. Students determined the appropriate audience(s) and approaches to maximize engagement and educational impact, including an outline and plan for an event, specific activities to employ during the event (e.g., a film screening, community art project, etc.), as well as locations, resources, and follow-up activities to promote continued engagement.

Sustainable Communities Collaborative Contact Info

University Faculty Contact
Kaitlyn Spangler, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Community Development and Engagement
kspangler@psu.edu

Rain Garden Initiative in Coburn Park

Ada Inman — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 17:40:47 +0000

Coburn Park serves as the community park for Penn Township, consisting of a 15+ acres area along Penns Creek, with two picnic pavilions, a playground, baseball field and large open, mowed areas. Opposite the parking area for the park, is a swale that seems to collect stormwater runoff from the town of Coburn slightly uphill. The Park also hosts the Penns Valley Conservation Association’s (PVCA) Creek Fest annually. PVCA would like to see more sustainable management of the park including educational opportunities for pollinator gardens, rainwater gardens, and riparian buffers. A plan for the entire site had been created for a grant but ultimately was abandoned due to the cost for the township and lack of buy-in. Centre County Conservation District along with PVCA would like to identify potential design/ plant selection for a pollinator garden to serve as an educational example, as well as to get the the township on board with work on making Coburn Park an attractive location for its residents to spend time outdoors, providing research and ideation of what the park could look like and how it can serve the community.

Sustainable Communities Collaborative Contact Info

University Faculty Contact
Liana T Burghardt, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
ltb5167@psu.edu
814-863-6168

Centre County Conservation District – �鶹��Ƶ

Community Events Planning for Centre County Conservation District

Rain Garden Initiative in Coburn Park